Scandal that began with Findus lasagne widens. Products also withdrawn in Spain. No comment from food giant

After breaking in the UK, the scandal of horse meat passed off as beef has now widened. Nestlé, the Swiss-based multinational and the world’s largest supplier of food products, has withdrawn its “Ravioli di Brasato Buitoni” [Buitoni Braised Beef Ravioli] and “I Tortellini di Carne” [Beef Tortellini]. The decision was taken after tests were carried out on all the products in the supply chain and results revealed traces of horse DNA amounting to just over 1%.

TESTS – News of Nestlé’s decision was published on the Financial Times website. The Swiss food giant has issued no statement but the London-based daily is believed to have informed the food safety authorities in Italy and Spain. Only a week ago, Nestlé claimed that its beef-based products contained no trace of horse meat.